MOORHEAD – This year, the Fargo-Moorhead Pride week is taking on some added importance.

With a proposed amendment defining marriage as between one man and one woman looming on Minnesota’s ballot this November, an organizer of this year’s Pride says the issue will be up front and center.

Joshua Boschee, chair of the F-M Pride Planning Committee, says the event, in its 12th year, will include several discussions and other events addressing the proposed amendment.

“That discussion will definitely be apparent,” Boschee says. “We’ll have a lot of discussions about how we can defeat that amendment and how we can have marriage equality in Minnesota.”

FM Pride is partnering with Minnesotans United for All Families, which Boschee says will have an active presence at Sunday’s parade and other events.

“They’ll be speaking with people about how to be educated,” Boschee says. “That’ll be a part of the discussion.”

Aside from the amendment issue, though, the four days are meant to be a celebration of, and for, the community. And, except for a show on Friday night, all events are all-ages and family friendly, Boschee says.

“One thing that sets our Pride apart from most others is that we try our hardest to make sure it’s accessible and affordable for families,” he says. “It’s a great opportunity for people of all ages to come and see what it’s all about.”

Activity gets going today, with bowling at Moorhead’s All-Star Bowl at 6 p.m., followed at 9 p.m. by karaoke at Rhombus Guys Pizza in downtown Fargo.

An Aquarium dance party is scheduled for 9 p.m. on Friday, featuring GoGo Harder – named Best International Male Performer at London Burlesque Week – and Kings of Grandeur.

Pride in the Park goes from noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday at Moorhead‘s Gooseberry Park, and is followed by the F-M Pride Block Party at 6 p.m. at Usher’s House in Moorhead.

On Sunday, the Pride Parade takes to the streets of downtown Fargo starting at 2 p.m. A Pride Rally is scheduled for the Fargo Civic Center’s west lawn after the parade, and the F-M Pride after-party, starting at 3 p.m. at Sidestreet Grill & Pub, will close out the weekend’s events.

Over the past few years, as Fargo’s LGBT community has grown in size, Boschee says the Pride celebration has also grown, and this year’s is one of the biggest.

“It’s great that there’s this support in the community,” he says. “The fact that Fargo-Moorhead has a very vibrant Pride celebration says something.”